Amarillo, TX – June 14, 2006 – The Bell Boeing Program Office, a strategic alliance between the Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company (NYSE: TXT) is sponsoring display and flight demonstrations for two MV-22 aircraft at two major airshows in Great Britain in July.
U.S. Marines will fly two MV-22 Ospreys to England, arriving the week the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is held. RIAT runs Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16, 2006, at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The aircraft will then be flown to Farnborough Airport for the Farnborough International Air Show (FAS), which begins July 17, and runs through July 23, 2006. Bell Boeing pilots will fly the aircraft during both demonstrations. The V-22's will be part of the daily flight demonstrations at both RIAT and Farnborough.
Bell Boeing is planning a major press conference at the Farnborough Press Center on Monday, July 17, from noon to 12:45 PM, the opening day of the show. Speaking at the press conference will be Bell CEO Michael Redenbaugh, Mike Tkach, senior vice president Boeing Rotorcraft, and a senior Marine. In addition, Bell Boeing is sponsoring a panel discussion press conference with Marine pilots and maintainers at the Bell Boeing chalet on Wednesday, July 19, from 11:00 AM to noon.
The Ospreys will depart Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC, and fly to Goose Bay, Newfoundland, where the crews will remain overnight. The next day they will depart Goose Bay and fly across the Atlantic to Farnborough with two Marine Corps KC-130J tanker aircraft from VMGR-252. Following the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough Air Show, the aircraft will return to MCAS New River via Goose Bay.
The Marine Corps' purpose for going to RIAT and FAS is to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for long-range, over-water movements of V-22s. VMX-22 will validate the Osprey's long-range fuel system capability and aerial refueling data, with the goal of supporting future VMM unit-level deployments.
Under the current program of record, the Marine Corps will purchase 360 MV-22s for missions, including amphibious assault, ship-to-objective maneuvers, and sustained operations ashore. The Navy is also slated to get 48 MV-22s, which could be used for fleet logistic support, and search and rescue.
The Air Force Special Operations Command will acquire 50 CV-22 variants, with enhanced capabilities tailored for their unique mission requirements. The CV-22 will reach initial operational capability in 2009, while the Marines' variant will be ready to deploy in late 2007.
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company operating in 33 countries with approximately 37,000 employees in continuing operations. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $31 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment and launch services.